Darlington stage the top match in the North-East today, with the visit of Sheffield in North One likely to provide a useful benchmark of their promotion potential.

Sheffield won their opening league match 22-18 at home to Halifax, who inflicted Darlington's only league defeats last season when they were both promoted.

Although they finished on the same points as third-placed Bradford and Bingley, Sheffield finally slipped to sixth last season but are known to have a strong pack.

Darlington hand league debuts to former Hartlepool Rovers pair, lock Mark Power and winger Ian Coulson, and player-coach Phil Lancaster will start at prop, with Joe Osleton on the bench.

There is a slight doubt about Martin Howe, who faces a fitness test, with John Whitehouse standing by to take over at open side after missing most of last season.

A measure of the strength of rugby in Darlington is the players left on the bench and late choices are to be made between Simon White and Mark Butler at centre and Bryan Dixon and Ian Todd at blind side.

It's the same story with Mowden Park, who have winger Steve Jones, centre Mark Bedworth and prop Ian Keeligan among their replacements for the National Three North match at Nuneaton.

Club captain Mick Kent is recovering from a groin strain but faces a battle for his place, while Ian James is unavailable, which eases the selection dilemma in the back five.

Flanker Tony Irwin, who played for 65 minutes on his comeback from injury last week, will again start and Chris Mattison keeps his place on the right wing after his excellent seasonal debut.

Anthony Elwine returns to partner Jonny Golightly at centre, with Matt Howland switching to the left wing.

Chairman of Rugby John Parkinson said: "We have a squad of 20 to 25 who can all play at this level and obviously those left out are itching to get back in.

"We are trying to ensure our back-up side, the Elizabethans, have a strong fixture list and they are away to Morley.

"Nuneaton finished fifth last season and are a strong, well-drilled side, particularly in the forwards.

"But if we play as we finished at Bromsgrove last week we should be OK."

After two disappointing performances following the opening win against Leicester, Newcastle Falcons need to get back on track before they begin their Heineken European Cup campaign with a 6.15 kick-off at home to Newport next Saturday.

They visit London Irish tomorrow and are making plans to fly George Graham and Stuart Grimes down from Edinburgh.

Both are on the bench for Scotland against Ireland at Murrayfield today and it is hoped they will be OK for similar duties for the Falcons.

Doddie Weir returns alongside Hugh Vyvyan in the second row, and Micky Ward is expected to start at loose head in place of Graham.